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Champions League R16 Second Leg Predictions & Free Soccer Picks

Champions League returns to the forefront of soccer odds with the deciding second legs of the R16 this week. Here we rundown through all the matchups and serve up choice soccer picks.

Champions League R16 Second Leg Odds According to Bet365
The deciding round of the Champions League R16 ties gets underway on Tuesday, four fixtures on the week’s card that will settle half of the quarterfinal draw. With match betting markets trading across sports betting platforms, we rundown through the soccer odds, analyse the ties and serve up choice soccer picks.

Zenit vs. Benfica
Zenit are down 1-0 to Benfica in their tie, but with home advantage in the second leg they have every chance to reverse the tie in their favor. Indeed, soccer odds say as much with the hosts trading as the notional home favorites at Even odds or thereabouts. Still, Benfica do have the 1-0 edge in the tie and they’ll fancy their chances to defend that slim lead, surely. You can’t write the Portuguese side off, particularly as they are riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak into this clash, beginning with the first leg 1-0 win at home and extending over three domestic fixtures in which they’ve outscored opponents 6-1. In their last five away contests Benfica have scored an astonishing 19 goals and conceded just four. Indeed, on the defensive side of the ball, Benfica are tough to break down but they clearly have some firepower that deserves respect. And that could prove the final nail in Zenit’s Champions League coffin. It won’t be a shocking turn of events if the visitors do come through as the long shots to win outright –anywhere from +220 (BetOnline) to +250 (5Dimes). Still, we’re of the opinion that Zenit, under pressure to score and resurrect their Champions League hopes, will come through for their backers.

Chelsea vs. PSG
Chelsea are down 2-1 in the tie with PSG, desperate to turn it around when they welcome the French champions to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. There are those soccer bettors, hanging their hats on the Cinderella run to the title in 2012, that believe the Blues can accomplish the feat and with recent form looking promising under Guus Hiddink that notion is gaining momentum. Odds makers are certainly cornering the second leg in Chelsea’s camp on the Champions League odds board, albeit with soccer odds of +156 to +185 depending on your choice sportsbook. The pressure is on Chelsea to score because they need to win out if they hope to advance. PSG, meanwhile, will look to defend their lead and hit on the counterattack when possible. It’s quite possible these two sides will cancel each other out, which has us leaning towards the draw at +240 at bet365.

Wolfsburg vs. Gent
Wolfsburg enter the second leg as the significant home favorites on the Champions League odds board, trading anywhere from -188 (bet365) to -204 (The Greek) thanks to a 3-2 edge on aggregate. On the strength of three away goals, the German side is in good position to advance into the quarterfinals, however Gent revived their hopes in the first leg with two late goals in the game to close the gap on the scoreboard to 3-2. Wolfsburg can’t take anything for granted when the plucky Belgians arrive; this is unchartered territory for both teams and they are bound to be nervy with the prospect of European grandeur hanging in the balance. That said, Wolfsburg’s home form is rather impressive all things being considered with just three losses in their last 15 overall home fixtures, all of which were to the top tandem of Bayern Munich (twice) and Borussia Dortmund. Gent, by contrast, are riding a three-game losing streak on their travels (two Belgium Pro League defeats and Cup loss). Most conspicuously, they were outscored 7-2 over the course of those fixtures and twice held scoreless. By all accounts, Wolfsburg should win this game and, thus, they are our choice soccer pick.

Real Madrid vs. Roma
Real Madrid have the edge in the tie with Roma after running out 2-0 winners in the Italian capital, but Los Blancos can’t take anything for granted either. Roma’s backs are up and they’ve no choice but to hit out if they hope to salvage their European campaign, making them dangerous floaters to spot. Real’s domestic campaign looks bleak with a 12-point gap between them and Barcelona, a setback furthered along by a costly defeat to Atletico Madrid a fortnight ago. In no uncertain terms, Real’s season hangs on their account in Champions League and only a title winning run will be deemed acceptable. So far, their campaign has gone rather well with an undefeated mark through the rounds, highlighted by the 2-0 win in the first leg. At the weekend, Real decimated Celta de Vigo 7-1 at the Bernabeu, which is exactly the sort of gauntlet throwing performance manager Zinedine Zidane was surely after ahead of this pivotal return leg. Not to be outdone, Roma showed their scoring flare at the weekend too with a 4-1 beat down of Fiorentina, their third straight win in domestic action underscored by outscoring their opponents 12-2. If that’s not a signal of intent what is? Real Madrid have the home advantage which equates to a significant edge on the soccer odds board, but Roma could prove tougher than the soccer odds would suggest. We’re definitely tickling Real on our soccer picks to win outright, but we won’t be surprised if Roma rise to the occasion and serve up a right thriller, if not mastermind the upset altogether.